Lexplore history together!
Lexington Historical Society
  • Home
    • About
    • Board Directory
    • Blog
    • Contact
    • COVID-19 Information
    • Digital Content
    • Staff
  • Visit
    • Accessibility and Logisitics
    • Current Exhibits >
      • Past Exhibits
    • Historic Sites
    • Landscapes
    • Virtual Tours
  • Education
    • Digital Learning
    • Family and Youth Programs >
      • First Shot Summer Camp
      • April Vacation Activities
      • Children's Battle Reenactment
      • Colonial Kids
    • Home School Programs
    • School Programs
    • School Group Visits
    • Colonial Performers
  • Events
  • Join
    • Membership
    • Volunteer >
      • Archives
      • Buildings and Grounds
      • Collections
      • Hancock-Clarke Greeters
      • Munroe Tavern Greeters
      • Programs and Events
  • Give
    • Bluebirds of Hope
    • Corporate Community Partners
    • Donate Something >
      • COVID-19 History Project
    • Help Us Conserve Something
  • Research
    • Archival Procedures
    • Archives & Research Center
    • Online Collections
    • Online Exhibits
    • Publications and Reports
    • Research Requests
    • Research & Reproduction Fees
  • Rent
    • Catering, Bartending & Equipment Rental
    • Depot Floor Plan
    • Depot History
    • Depot Photos
    • Rental Inquiry Form
    • Rental Rates
    • Venue Details
  • Shop
  • Home
    • About
    • Board Directory
    • Blog
    • Contact
    • COVID-19 Information
    • Digital Content
    • Staff
  • Visit
    • Accessibility and Logisitics
    • Current Exhibits >
      • Past Exhibits
    • Historic Sites
    • Landscapes
    • Virtual Tours
  • Education
    • Digital Learning
    • Family and Youth Programs >
      • First Shot Summer Camp
      • April Vacation Activities
      • Children's Battle Reenactment
      • Colonial Kids
    • Home School Programs
    • School Programs
    • School Group Visits
    • Colonial Performers
  • Events
  • Join
    • Membership
    • Volunteer >
      • Archives
      • Buildings and Grounds
      • Collections
      • Hancock-Clarke Greeters
      • Munroe Tavern Greeters
      • Programs and Events
  • Give
    • Bluebirds of Hope
    • Corporate Community Partners
    • Donate Something >
      • COVID-19 History Project
    • Help Us Conserve Something
  • Research
    • Archival Procedures
    • Archives & Research Center
    • Online Collections
    • Online Exhibits
    • Publications and Reports
    • Research Requests
    • Research & Reproduction Fees
  • Rent
    • Catering, Bartending & Equipment Rental
    • Depot Floor Plan
    • Depot History
    • Depot Photos
    • Rental Inquiry Form
    • Rental Rates
    • Venue Details
  • Shop

The Value of Donations for Lexington Historical Society

12/31/2019

0 Comments

 
We in the nonprofit world are always asking for money. You see us on social media, on our website, and in letters asking for support for various programs, operating costs, or new initiatives. You must get tired of us! It’s understandable.

Let us explain ourselves. Nonprofits work hard to do good in the world, in a variety of different ways. For us at Lexington Historical Society, we bring history to the public through our museums, education programs, lectures, summer camps, and exhibits. We care for our historic buildings, homes that were originally built in the 1700s and played a role in the first days of the American Revolution. We also take care of tens of thousands of documents and objects in our collection. These documents and objects were donated to us to keep safe for all time so that future generations can learn what life was like in Lexington in the past. That’s a big job, and one that we take very seriously.

All the things we do—caring for museums, preserving documents and artifacts, and presenting public programs—cost money. Since Lexington Historical Society is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, we receive no funding from the government on a regular basis. There is no line item in the town or state budget for Lexington Historical Society’s work (or the work of many other nonprofits). We must raise every dollar we spend.

We go about raising funds in various ways: we sell tickets to see our museums, apply for grants for special projects, and occasionally ask for a small donation for a lecture. However, in order to continue operating, Lexington Historical Society relies on regular donations from individuals throughout the year. Without these donations, we would no longer exist. Our museums would not be open to the public, we would not be able to care for or house our important collections, and we would not be able to host public programs. We think that Lexington would be a lot less exciting without its history, don’t you?

That’s why we’re always popping up in your inbox, newsfeed, and mailbox asking for your help.

Luckily for Lexington Historical Society, we have wonderful supporters. In 2019, over 600 people donated to keep us in operation. 600! That’s a lot of people who believe in the value of local history. By making a gift, no matter the size, our supporters ensure that students can continue visiting us every year, our museums will still be standing in 100 years, and our documents and objects will survive.

At the end of this busy and successful year, I want to take a moment to thank all of you who have taken part in and supported Lexington Historical Society. Despite our annoying asks, you showed that you believe in our work, and want us to continue doing what we do!

Whether you became a member, donated, or signed up for a lecture, you made a difference. We cannot do this without you. We look forward to serving the community and bringing history to life in 2020, and we hope that you will join in.

Happy New Year from all of us at Lexington Historical Society.

​With deep appreciation and gratitude,
Erica McAvoy
Executive Director
 
PS: To continue in the true nonprofit spirit, I will make one last plea for donations for 2019! If you would like to support Lexington Historical Society before the new year, please click here.
Here are just some of Lexington Historical Society’s costs in 2019:

  • $130,000 to staff our museums with well-trained, knowledgeable tour guides
 
  • $125,000 to care for our three museums and program space at the Depot (both standard maintenance and unanticipated projects)
 
  • $80,000 to care for our collections, not including the move to our new Archives & Research Center (this project was funded by grants and private donations)
 
  • $10,000 for program-related expenses
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Authors

    Featuring the voices of Lexington Historical Society permanent staff and occasional guest authors.

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture
Funding from Mass Humanities has been provided through the National Endowment for the
​Humanities ​as part of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Copyright 2020 Lexington Historical Society
Physical Address:
Lexington Historical Society
13 Depot Square
Lexington, MA 02420

Mailing Address:
Lexington Historical Society
P.O. Box 514
Lexington, MA 02420

Main  Office: 781-862-1703
Archives & Collections: 781-862-3763
Tours: 781-862-3763

Subscribe to Newsletter